Hydraulic clutch transmission mechanism



Aug- 25, 1942- c. E. FREDERICKSON 2,293,731

HYDRAULIC CLUTCH TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed July 9, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet 2 g wumwbcn,

Aug. 25, 1942.` c. E. FREDERlcKsoN 2,293,731

HYDRAULIC CLUTCH TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed July 9, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet 5 flbtoww Patented ug. 25, 1942 A HYDRAULIC CLUTCHTeANsMissIoN MECHANISM V('Jlayton Erasmus-Frederickson, Chicago, Ill.Application July' 9, 1941, serial N0.,4o1,6s5

.16 Claims.

My invention, which relates to speed changing transmissions, hasespecial reference to those transmissions which employ an4incompressible -uid connection between driving vand driven elements. ey

Generically, the invention has for its objects: to provide a hydraulictransmission mechanism which can be used in automobiles, brakes onairplanes, industrial clutches and in steering of tanks or crawler-typetraetors;. to provide 'a transmission mechanism of theclass ,stated inwhich the hydraulic fluid travels in as short a path as. possibleand'which allows great presi sures to be produced; to provide means torelieve excessive pressures within the transmission pase; to providelahydraulic transmission employing an outer rotor (which also serves asthel case) and an inner rotor, the'two being operatively connected -by a'relatively large number of cylinders and pistons, a wabbler device andthe hydraulic ud, the pistonsand their cylinders being in such numberand being so cooperatively arranged that there is no dead center .topass over`; 'to providel means' in the cylinder heads A for relievingresistance to the return movements of the pistons should the-main oilports be closed too far to admit oil into the cylinders fast enough onthe suction strokes of the pistons: to provide an improved constructionof the wabbler for` ease of assembly, wearresistance and freedom ofa-ction; and, in general, to improve the Construction so as toprovide anecient pie'ce of apparatus that will, at the same time, be relativelyin-A expensive to 'buildjand will require few if any repairs orreplacements over a long period of .time.

' Otherobjects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outhereinafter..

T o the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention stillfurther resides inthe novel detailsl of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, al1 ofwhich will be rst fully 'described in thefollowing detailed descripy tion, and then be particular1y"pointed outin the appended claims, reference being had 'to the .ac-

` Acomixanying drawingainwhich':

Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section f of my, mechanism.l

` 2 is a. cross section" on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a similarsection' looking in thedirec.. I.

tion opposite the arrow on the linle2; 2 of Fig. 1 j 'Fig'. 4 is adetail section-ontheline 4 -4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail eier/enen `of thekvehbiefnd 55 the hub end ef theinner roter te which the wabbler is connected,`looking from left ltoright in f Fig. 1. v Fig. 6 is an enlarged Idetail section on the line6--6 .of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is'an enlarged detail view of a portion of the 4valve stem andtherelief valve thereon. Fig. 8` is an enlarged View, part1y in elevationand partly in section, of one ofthe pistonrods.

l 0 Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one of the wabblersocket plugs. l

Fig. 10 is a Cross section onthe line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of one of the' resilient' l5 split latch rings.

.' In the drawings, in which like numbers of reference indicate likeparts in all the figures, I, 2 and 3 represent fixed-supports for ballbearings 4,5 and 6 respectively. e

The driveshaft 1 (engine shaft, when the invention is used in motorvehicles) is journalled inlbearing 4, and it h las al flange 9 to whichthe oase I0 of the .outer rotor of the transmission is secured by screwsI l5.

A driven shaft 8 ts into the driven sleeve 2`Iv of the inner rotor. e

The outer rotor comprises a case I9 having .cooling fms Il., a recess I4for the ange 9, a.

seat I2 for a startergear "I3, and a; recess I6 for a steelA inclinedtrack Il, an inclined guide ring .50 and a removable cover 23 secured toa flange y2-2 of the case 'Ill by c ap screws 24 and having an inner hub25 for a ball bearing 26 and an y outer hub 28 for the ball bearing 5.Thehub 28 is recessed toreceivean oil-seal packing 29 of I9 for a ballbearing 20.

suitably located ller plugs or fittings 30 are provided for lling therotor withpil.

,anysuitable kind. It also includes a yhollow hub 'The inner rotor 3|has a hub 32 slotted at 33 lto receive bearing blocks 34 for`the shortshaft "or pin 36 ofa universal joint, and a pressure ree' lieving spring3 5. The hub 32 hasA a reduced end 2,1 te nt'mte thehearig zo which islocated in the` hollow hub I9 of the outerroton.

" The inner rotor proper 3l/ includes a' set (twelve preferably) of`pump cylinders 5I arranged parallel to the common axis ofthe rotors andat equal distances -radially therefrom, A piston 52 is located in eachcylinder and Ais tapped'- at 53 to receive a screw plug 55.. The pistonhead Iand the. plug 55'have, seats 54' and 56 respectively` for the ballhead 62 `of a connecting rod 51:

f vEach connecting rod 5|.also has a second ball v head 5 8 to cooperatewith'a `wabb1e ring 39.

In order to permit assembly of rod 51 and plug 53, one of the ball headsis made separately from the rod, say the head 62. As shown in Fig. 8,the rod has a reduced threaded portion 59 and a further reducedrivet-like end 60. The ball 62 is similarly bored and tapped so thatwhen assembled the end 60=can be upset or riveted over as at 6I and thusrigidly secure ball 62 and rod 51 together.

The wabble ring 39 has a seat 48 to which is suitably secured a steelball race-way ring 4I to cooperate with track-ring I1 and the intereposed ball thrust bearing 86.

The track ring I1 preferably has a ball raceway or groove I8 to keepthe. balls centered about the axis of the ring.

The ring 31 of the universal joint has dia# metrically oppositelydisposed stub shafts 38 to be received in bearing portions 89 of theWabble ring 39 and the bearing caps 80 bolted at 9| thereto (see Fig.6).

'I'he wabble ring carries a set of cups 42 (one for each connecting rod)having spherical segment bearing portions-43 and internally threadedrecesses for the reception of screw plugs 44. 'I'he plugs 44 are (likethe plugs 53) placed on the rods 51 before the heads 62 are secured inplace.

Each plug 44 has a, spherical segment bearing 45 and a flared Vopening46. It also has a latching ring groove 41 and slot 48 for a splitspring-key 81 (see Fig. 1l) If desired, the plugs 55 may be similarlyequipped.

The wabble ring may also be provided with an annular bead 49 to contactthe incline-ring 58. The inclined faces of track-ring I1 and inclinering50 parallel one another, as shown in Fig. l.

Each cylinder I has piston controlled inlet ports 63. Each cylinder alsohas outlet ports 64 4controlled by a shiftable piston type valve 13.

The inner rotor also has a single control valve cylinder 69 with whichthe ports 64 and several small ducts'65 communicate. The ducts 65 passfrom the control valve chamber to the periphery of the rotor and areprovided with one-way relief valves 66 (see Fig. 2).

'I'he cylinder heads are each provided with ports 61 containing one-wayvalves 68 opening inwardly.

The inner rotor includes a cover 10 for the control valve chamber, thecover 10 being secured in place by means of cap screws 1I. The cover 19has a recess in which is located a suitable 'oil-seal'packing 12 toprevent oil leakage between the sleeve 21 and the valve stem 15.

The valve stem has a threaded reduced end to which the threaded hub 14of the piston-valve 13 is secured (see Fig. 1). The stem 15 has apressure relief duct 16 through the same to atmosphere, the outlet endof which is controlled by a one-way check valve device 11 of anyapproved construction (see Figs. 1 and '1). The4 lever 83 is connectedwith the fork 82 by a ball and socket joint 92 and a ball latch 84 holdsrod `8| in either of its extreme positions.

A suitable shield or housing 85 may be provided to enclose thetransmission mechanism if desired.

Operation The case I0 being filled with a suitable grade of oil and thelever 83 being positioned as shown in Fig. l, ports. 64 will be wideopen and oiler but minimum resistance to the ow of oil from thelcylinders 5I into the chambers of the cylinder v 69, and vice versa.

" rotor, the wabbler will cause successive pump the cylinders 5I on thesuction or outward.

the outside diameter of the inner rotor there is no' pistons 52 to beforced inwards while the others are moved outward in succession. As theports 64 are wide open the oil forced out by the in- .wardly movingpistons will pass through Vthe chamber of valve cylinder 69 into-thepump cyl inders 5I of the receding pistons 52 without opposingsubstantial resistance. Hence, no motion will be imparted to lthe drivenshaft 8.

By moving the lever 83 forwardly the pistonvalve 13 may be made to closethe ports 64 in part or in whole, as desired. When closed in part Atheresistnce to oil flow through ports 64 is proportionately increased andthe inner rotor will therefore turn at speeds proportional to the degreeof closure of ports 64, and consequently driven shaft 8 will turn at thesame speed as that of the inner rotor. way forward, ports 64 will beclosed and oil cannot escape from the pump cylinders. Consequently theinner and outer rotors will be hydraulically locked together and willconsequently turn at the same speed. Therefore shafts 1 and 8 willlikewise turn at the same speed. This is the direct or high speed drive.

By providing the relief valves 68 in the cylinder heads, should `at anytime oil not flow into strokes of the pistons 52, back pressureresistance against the outward movement of the pistons is eliminated asoil can iiow into the pump cylinders through the valved ports 61. Shouldthe oil pressurein the inner rotor fall below that in the outer rotor,oil will ow through the valvedports 65 and/or the ports 63 into theinner rotor until the pressure in the inner rotor is brought up to thedesired amount. Should a predetermined excess pressure build up in theinner rotor it will be relieved by release of oil through valve stemduct 16.

By the use of my invention the necessity -of a separate flywheel isavoided. By the use of ball bearings between the wabbler and th'einclined pressure ring I1 friction is reduced to a minimum.

In my design of apparatus shown there are always ve or more pump pistonsbeing forced inwardly at a time and as the pumps are set on dead centerand the pressure exerted on the wabbler plate is always the same, nevergreater, nor varied at any part of the travel or stroke of thepistons-the wabbler pumps acting as, or similar to, a. C-clamp. Thestrain is always between ball bearings 86 and 26.

'The provision of the spring loaded bearing 34 relieves pressure on pin36, so all weight is carried on ball bearings; yet spring 35 is strongenough to keep all stretch out of th'e piston hook-up.

From the foregoing description, takenin .con-

nection with the accompanying drawings, 'it is thought the construction,operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilledin the art. Modifications of details of structure, etc., can readily bemade by those skilled in the With lever 83 all thev What I claim is:

1. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism, an Y outer rotor and an innerrotor, a driving shaft coupled to said outer rotor, a driven elementcoupled to said` inner rotor, a hydraulic uid within said rotors,variable operative connections, "1ncluding said uid, between saidrotors, by virtue cfwhich said inner rotor is driven from saidout'errotor atvariable speeds, and means'for admitting fluid from the outerrotor into the inner rotor, and means for releasing to atmosphere. uidfrom the inner rotor upon the building up of excessive pressure -in theinner rotor.

2; In a hydraulic .transmission mechanism, an outer rotor and an innerrotor, a driving shaft coupled to said outer rotor, adriven elementcou-` pled to said inner rotor, a hydraulic uid within said rotors,variable operative connections, including said uid, between said rotors,by virtue of which said inner rotor is driven from said outer rotor atvariable speeds, and means for maintaining predetermined uid pressurewithin said ro.- tcrs, said means including valved ports for admittingfluid from the outer rotor into the inner -rotor when the pressure inthe inner rotor falls .below .that in the outer rotor, and'means forreleasing the pressures in the inner rotor upon the buildingr up ofexcessive rotor.

3. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism, an4 outer rotor land an innerrotor, a driving shaft coupled to said outer rotor, a driven elementcoupled to said inner rotor, a hydraulic iluid within .said rotors,variable 'operative connections, including said fluid, between saidrotors, by virtue of which said inner rotor is driven from said outerrotor at variable speeds, means including valved ports for admittingiiuid from the outer rotor into the inner rotor, and a valved duct forreleasing iiuid from the rotors to atmosphere upon the building up ofexcessive pressure in the inner rotor. l

4. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism, an

pressure in the inner outer rotor and an inner rotor, a driving shaftVconnected to said inner rotor.

pled to said inner rotor, a hydraulic fluid within said rotors, saidinner rotor including a plurality of pumpcylinders and pistons and acontrol valve cylinder, pump pistons in said.. pump cylinders, and a,valve in the control valve cylinder, ports between said control valvecylinder and said pump cylinders, controlled by said valve, a wabblermounted onA said inner rotor by means of a universal joint, an inclinedring carried by said outer rotor, and a ball bearing located betweensaid inclined ring and said wabbler, and means to relieve thrusts on theuniversal 'joint where it is 7. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism,an outer rotor and an inner rotor, a driving shaft coupled to said outerrotor, a driven element coupled to said inner rotor, a'hydraulic fluidwithin mounted on the inner rotor.

said rotors, said inner rotor including a plurality A v of pumpcylinders and pistons and a control valve cylinder, pump pistons in saidpump cylinders,

and a valve in the control valvelcylinder, ports between said controlva=lve cylinder and said pump lcylinders, controlled by said valve, awabbler mounted on said inner rotor by means of a universal joint, aninclined ring carried by said outer rotor, a ball bearing locatedbetween said inclined ring and said wabbler, and means to relievethrusts on the universal joint where it is connected to said innerrotor, said thrust-relieving means comprising a spring loaded bearing,for the connecting pin of the universal joint,l slidably 8. In ahydraulic transmission mechanism, an outer rotor and an inner rotor, adriving shaft coupled to said outer rotor, a driven element coupled tosaid inner rotor,.a hydraulic iiuid within said rotors, said inner rotorincluding a plurality of pump cylinders `and pistons and acontrol valvecylinder, pump pistons i'n said pump cylinders, and a valve in thecontrol valve cylinder, ports Vbetween said control valve cylinder andsaid pump lcylinders, controlled by said valve, a wabbler coupled-tosaid outer rotor, .a driven element cylinders, and a valve in thecontrol valve cylinder,

ports between said control valve cylinder and said pump cylinders,controlled by said valve, a wabbler mountedon said inner rotor by -meansof a mounted lon said inner rotor by-means of a universal joint,aninclined ring carried bysaid outer rotor, a ballrace ring carried bysaid wabblerand a ball'bearing located between said rings.

9. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism, an

outer rotor and an inner rotor, a driving shaft coupled to said outerrotor, a driven element coupled-to said inner rotor, a hydraulic fluidwithin said rotors, said inner rotor including a plurality universaljoint,`an inclined ring carried by said outer rotor, and a ball bearinglocated 'between said inclined ring and said wabbler.

5; In a hydraulic transmission mechanism, an

outer rotor and an inner rotor, a driving shaft coupled to said outerroter, a driven element coupled to said inner rotor, a, hydraulic fluidwithin said rotors, said'inner rotor including a plurality of pumpcylindersandpist'ons and acontrol valve cylinder, pump vpistons, in'said pump cylinders, and a valve in the control valve cylinder, portsbetween said control valve cylinder and said pump cylinders, controlledbyA said valve, ,a wabbler mounted on s aid inner rotor by means of auni'-v versal joint, an inclined ring carried by said outer rotor, and aiioating ball bearing located between saidinclined ring and saidwabbler.

of pump cylinders and pistonsand a control valve cylinder, pump pistonsin said pump cylinders,v and a valve in the control valve cylinder,ports between said control valve cylinder and said pump cylinders,controlled by said valve, a wabbler mounted on said inner rotor by means`of a universal joint, an inclined ring carried by said outer rotor, ahardened ball race ring carried by said wabbler, and a iloating ballbearing located between said rings.

10. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism, an outer rotor and an innerlrotor, a driving shaft coupled to said outer rotor, a driven elementcoupled to said inner rotor, a hydraulic fluid within said rotors, saidinner rotor including a plurality 4of pump cylinders and pistons and acontrol valve cylinder, pump pistons in said pump cylinders,

6. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism-an outer rotor and an'innerrotor, aA driving shaft coupled to said 'outer rotor,'a driven elementcouand a valve in the control valve cylinder, ports between said controlvalve cylinder and said pump cylinders, 'controlled by vsaid valve, awabbler mounted on said inner rotor` by means cfa universal joint, aninclined ring carried by said outer rotor, a ball race ring carried bysaid wabbler and a ball bearing Alocated between said rings, saidinclined ring including a grooved track for the balls of said ballbearing. A

11. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism, an outer rotor comprising acylinder closed at one end by an integral wall, a removable head for theother end of the cylinder, a driving shaft secured axially to saidrotor, an inclined track member mounted in said cylinder adjacent itswalled end, an innerrotor comprising a body having a plurality of pumpcylinders arranged about a common axis o f said rotors, and having avalve cylinder,'

said valve cylinder being open at one end, a removable cap for said openend, said cap having a sleeve projecting through an opening in the wallof th'e head of said outer rotor, an oil seal between tween said wabblerand said pump pistons, a ball bearing between said inclined track memberand said wabbler, and a hydraulic fluid in said rotors.

l12. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism, an outer rotor comprising acylinder closed at one end by an integral wall, a removable head for theother end of the cylinder, a driving shaft secured axially -to saidrotor, an inclined track member mounted in said cylinderadjacentitswalled end, an inner rotor comprising a body having a plurality of pumpcylinders arranged about a common axis of said rotors,-and rhaving a`valve cylinder, said valve cylinder being open at one end, a removablecap for said open end, said cap having a sleeve projecting through anopening in the wall of the head of said outer rotor, an oil seal betweensaid sleeve and said outer rotor head, ball bearings between said outerand inner rotors by virtue of which said inner rotor is rotatablymounted in said outer rotor, oil ports between said valve cylinder andsaid pump cylinders, a valve in said valve cylinder and having a stemmounted in and projecting through said sleeve. means to shift said valveto .close or open said ports, pump pistons in said piston cylinders, awabbler universally mounted on said inner rotor', connecting rodsbetween said wabbler and said pump pistons, a ball bearing between saidinclined track member and said wabbler, a hydraulic uid in said rotors,and means for maintaining a predetermined pressure within the innerrotor.

13. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism, an outer rotor comprising acylinder closed at one end by an integral wall, a removable head for theother end of the cylinder, a driving shaft secured axiallyto said rotor,an inclined track member mounted in said cylinderadjacent its walledend,

an inner rotor comprisin'gja body having a plurality of pump cylindersarranged about a common axis of said rotors, and having a valvecylinder,

said valve cylinder being open at one end, a-

valve to close or open said ports, pump pistons in said, pistoncylinders, a wabbler universally mounted on said inner rotor, connectingrods between said wabbler and said pump pistons, a ball bearing betweensaid inclined track member and said wabbler, a hydraulic fluid in saidrotors, and means including ports between said pump and valve cylindersand the outer rotor, and means for relieving excessive pressure in theinner cylinder and back check valves in said ports.

14. In a hydraulic transmission, inner and outer rotQrs,`an inclinedtrack, a wabbler and pumps having pistons, and piston-rods connectingthe pump pistons with the wabbler, said pump pistons and said wabblerhaving sockets with spherical segment seats, removable bearing plugs forsaid sockets having rod passages and complementary spherical segmentseats, said piston rods each comprising a rod having an integral ballhead at one end, and a'separable ball head at the other end, said plugshaving latch-spring receiving grooves and latch springs held inl saidgrooves and engaging parts of the sockets to hold the plugs againstscrewing and unscrewing.

15. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism, an outer rotor anc an innerrotor, a shaft connected to the outer rotor and another shaft connectedto the inner rotor, a hydraulic fluid within said rotors, variableoperative connections between said rotors, said connections includingsaid fluid and also including pump cylinders carried by one of saidrotors and having pistons, a wobbler connected with said pistons, auniversal joint means for mounting said wobbler on th'e rotor whichcarries the pump cylinders, and an inclined ring carried by the otherrotor for cooperation with said wobbler.

16. In a hydraulic transmission mechanism, an outer rotor and aninner-rotor, a shaft connected to the outer rotor and another shaftconnected to the inner rotor, a hydraulic iiuid within said rotors,variable operative connections between said rotors, said connectionsincluding said fluid and also including pump cylinders carried by one ofsaid rotors and having pistons, a wobbler connected with said pistons, auniversal joint means for mounting said wobbler on the rotor whichcarries the pump cylinders, an inclined ring carried by th'e other rotorfor cooperation with said wobbler, and an anti-friction bearing locatedbetween said ring and said wobbler.

CLAYTON ERASMUS FREDERICKSON.

